“……Duke Pieren is considering it? Is that all?”
“Yes, that’s what he decided.”
“……”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
Margaret quickly shook her head and then gave an awkward smile.
“He said he would contact you, so you should hear from him soon.”
“……”
“Don’t worry. Even if he doesn’t accept, the fact that I’m helping won’t change.”
“……I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“I’m likely to be resented, but still, you’ve helped me so much.”
Her eyes were moist.
I struggled to find words for a while, then finally clenched both my hands.
A tightly lined vein was visible on the back of my hand, hidden under the table.
Honestly, I didn’t know who to blame.
Was it the lover of the past who had become an enemy, the friend who knew everything yet still harbored him, or the little life stirring in the belly of my friend?
But I tried not to think deeply.
“Mom!”
The bouquet suddenly held out was very pretty, enough to hold the hardened feelings of the past.
“Look at this! Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yes, it’s pretty.”
“That’s right! It’s pretty! That’s why I picked a lot! For you, Mom!”
The stem, bent under the weight of the tempting flowers, swayed easily at the child’s gesture.
I chose the prettiest flower from the bouquet that Meriel offered and tucked it behind her ear.
Meriel squirmed as if the petals tickling her skin were ticklish, but obediently entrusted her face to my hand.
“I wonder who our daughter takes after to be this beautiful?”
“Mom! I take after you!”
Although the child was growing day by day, her chubby hands were still petulant, asking to be hugged.
I lifted Meriel onto my lap and gazed at her affectionately.
Perhaps there was no fooling the bloodline, the child had straight eyes that strongly resembled her grandfather.
Looking anew at the little face in my hand, packed with delicate features, I could only smile at my daughter snuggling in with kisses on my cheek.
I didn’t wish for more.
If I could just keep the small warmth in my arms, I could do anything.
[This is the time separator]“He’s waiting inside.”
“Thank you for arranging this.”
“No, it’s your sister’s request, of course I have to accommodate. It’s just that…”
Cheshire couldn’t continue and twisted his face.
I knew exactly what he wanted to say, but pretending not to know, I soothed his shoulder.
“It will be over soon, please keep my place for a while.”
“……”
“I’ll count on you.”
“Yes. I understand.”
I moved towards the inside, leaving behind Cheshire, who nodded weakly.
The room was set up fitting for a clandestine meeting.
“Have you arrived?”
As soon as I entered the room, I saw a familiar face.
It was Duke Pieren.
I calmed my heart and moved my head slowly.
Perhaps he had been waiting quite a while, steam was not rising from the teacup in front of Duke Pieren.
“You’re early.”
“It seems better to deal with troublesome matters quickly.”
“Then, our conversation will be over quickly.”
Anyway, we’re not in a situation where we have to face each other for long.
I twisted my lips and stared at the cooled tea.
During the time the tea cooled, Duke Pieren didn’t touch his cup at all.
He didn’t seem to have any guard down enough to calmly drink the tea offered by a stranger in a strange place.
“Since it seems like you won’t drink even if I bring new tea, let’s get to the point.”
“You seem very curious about my decision.”
“It’s unfortunate, but given the circumstances, I can’t help but ask. So, what’s your answer?”
I threw the question, but no answer came immediately.
His piercing gaze just scanned me intensively.
I frowned.
“If you need time to think.”
“Liviana.”
“……”
For a moment, I felt like my breath stopped.
I gently bit my lower lip.
I knew I had to point out the rudeness, but my mouth didn’t move.
His unusually black eyes reflected my flustered face as if in a mirror.
“Duchess of Creighton.”
Late, he added a title, I unwittingly frowned, but Duke Pieren just finished his words with an entirely indifferent face.
“What would you do if I refuse?”
“I would find another way.”
Clenching my fist hidden under the table, I tried hard to regain my composure.
Becoming emotional wouldn’t help at all.
“Another way?”
“Creighton has a lot of money.”
“Do you intend to buy a man with money?”
“Money always does a lot of work, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”
“……So I have to remarry, doing all that?”
“A child needs a father.”
“Is that your answer? Are you telling me this just because a father is needed, just for one reason?”
Duke Pieren raised his eyebrows as if he couldn’t believe it.
I faced his cold gaze and stood straight.
I thought I was quite used to the social gestures, but facing such raw eyes made my spine chill, making it more difficult than ever to maintain my composure.
The man’s eyes were different from the common ones in the social world that I was familiar with.
It was more like a beast than a human, more tenacious than anything else, and thus, confusing.
However, I still managed to act calmly.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
